Payton Watson Has Matched His Entire College Scoring Total in Just Four NBA Games
UCLA stats
Peyton Watson: 105 points, 32% FG, 23% from 3
Last 4 game stats
Peyton Watson: 105 points, 50% FG, 62% from 3
Source: https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/watsope01/gamelog/2026/#205-209-sum:player_game_log_reg
He didn’t like playing school
No way. How did he get drafted
Teams tend to draft athletic young guys regardless of their production which is why it seems like most international players come out of nowhere
Usually it doesn’t pan out but Denver developed Peyton very well
I’m pretty sure PWat is like the lowest PPG draft pick in the 1st round ever. 3.3 PPG in college. Even he was an offensive reach. The thing was is he was 18 (he’s 22 now).
Booth took a lot of guys who had flaws, but had upside. That’s kind of his drafting viewpoint. Braun was great all around but had bad measurables with low upside (small frame/arms for position). Spencer Jones was a great defender and shooter but his shot looks weird (it’s unbelievably weird and you’d never draft a guy who shoots like that). Jalen Pickett was a heady guard with good skills, IQ, and shot but was too small.
Spencer wasn’t drafted tbh, he was (and still is) an undrafted 2-way guy
peyton is like the opposite of most of those other guys. pwat was a high upside, longterm play while people CB/Pickett etc were supposed to be high floor, ready to contribute immediately
That’s one thing that Calvin Booth was great at. Finding talent and seeing upside.
He was the number 12 recruit. He was always highly rated. Played on team usa at fibas etc..
Not some unknown
Was just on a very stacked UCLA team
he was the still the 30th pick
Stacked UCLA team yet Peyton was one of only three people on the whole roster to make it to the NBA?
one of only three people on the whole roster to make it to the NBA?
Five - Jacquez, Clark, Bernard and Juzang all made the league. They had six top-100 recruits with more experience than him on the roster.
Ur a child
Keep in mind Watson was on a veteran team with a lot of good older players and they had tournament aspirations. The coach knew Watson would leave after one season so why give him a lot of minutes/chances to rack up stats if he isn’t going to stick around? Get the guys who help him now or will stick around chances to improve for when it matters.
Calvin Booth saw Kawhi in him so he took a gamble
Ridiculous defensive tools/potential and a ton of high school hype where he did show some stuff on offense. He was pick #30 as well, not some end of the 2nd round guy
NBA love drafting young talent with potential. That’s why guys who come in after 4 years in college usually are 2nd round picks
He was the number 12 recruit
Payton “Faris Bueller” Watson was too cool for school
Bronny should reach this milestone soon. He needs more than 4 games.
Its actually in like 20 points. Enjoy the free karma haters. Or I just stole OP’s next topic.
Who made you this way?